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Chapter 13

At my practices in Brooklyn and Long Island, I have represented thousands of people through financial crisis, and although the individual set of circumstances differ, there are a few common themes. In fact, I’ve found that when most people are faced with mounting bills and desperately want to get out of debt, they want to pay! They first start to haphazardly send in minimum payments – maybe a few dollars more – until they come to the realization that their debt is not decreasing and all of their hard earned money is going to interest payments and late fees. Their desperate search for a solution then turns toward a comparison of Chapter 13 bankruptcy and debt settlement companies. There are real differences between debt settlement and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The trick to learning what is in your best interest is getting a free consultation with a qualified attorney and getting past the myths about bankruptcy and analyzing the two different options.

Nicole R from Suffolk County was dead set against bankruptcy until she got tired of throwing away her money and was driven into my office – Doyaga & Schaefer. Nicole and her husband had previously filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. After their bankruptcy, they had a child and bought a home. But when Nicole lost her job as a video editor, their family amassed $70,000 in credit card debt. Nicole was tough and had lots of great questions. We discussed all her concerns and she ultimately made the decision to abandon her effort through debt consolidation and file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Below are some of her concerns:

The decision to file for bankruptcy is not one to take lightly. With the multiple bankruptcy plans available and the changes to bankruptcy law that occurred in 2005, it is important to be an informed about options from various scenarios. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy but have concerns about what may happen should your income change, here is an overview of the facts.

After the current bankruptcy law went into effect in 2005, many people were left with the impression that bankruptcy relief was no longer available or too difficult to obtain. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Like most formidable situations, bankruptcy has earned its reputation based on very few truthful facts and too many false embellishments. The majority of the myths about bankruptcy have begun since the current bankruptcy laws went into effect in 2005. But have no fear, once you know the facts, filing for bankruptcy is not nearly as terrifying as it first appears. Here are some of the most common myths about bankruptcy and what you need to know before you clean your slate.

Bankruptcy law has gone through many changes in recent years, which makes a good lawyer more important than ever for a successful bankruptcy case. It is also important to be fully informed about what a prospective lawyer can offer and what to expect from them. If you are talking to a bankruptcy lawyer, here are four questions to ask them before signing a contract:

In October 2005, the laws which govern Chapter 13 bankruptcy changed. One of the more significant ways the law changed dealt with the eligibility requirements for filing for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

In these difficult times, with thousands of people losing their jobs every month, it can be hard to keep up with all the expenses, especially when the bills keep coming. Falling behind on payments for a vehicle happens to the best of us. Sometimes life deals you adversity like an unexpected medical bill, a work related layoff or some other situation that no one plans for in the budget. You don’t have the money for it, but if you put off the car payment, you can get the bill paid, and hopefully can catch up on the car payment next month.

On October 17, 2005, new bankruptcy law went into effect, changing the process of filing for bankruptcy throughout the United States. This new shift in law requires additional steps to be taken by the attorney and the debtor but has been geared toward benefiting the debtor with the end result. The following details explain the changes in the law and how they will affect anyone considering bankruptcy.

Before filing for bankruptcy, it is crucial to understand all the facts. Since you may not be an expert in bankruptcy law, the questions you might have about the process have answers that are anything but clear. Not only are there different types of bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, but there are also significant differences between the two.

The decision to file for bankruptcy is not one to take lightly. With the multiple bankruptcy plans available and the changes to bankruptcy law that occurred in 2005, it is important to be an informed about options from various scenarios. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy but have concerns about what may happen should your income change, here is an overview of the facts.

Chapter 13 is called the wage earner’s plan and allows people with a regular income to develop a plan for repayment of debt. Even people who are self-employed can file for Chapter 13.